Election Body Announces Lok Sabha Dates, Parties React

NDTV, NEW DELHI:  Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and will be held over seven phases followed by counting of votes on May 23, the Election Commission announced today. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said the model code of conduct would come into immediate effect from Sunday and 10 lakhs polling stations would be set up this time as against about nine lakhs in 2014.

Shortly after the national election dates were announced on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets, "The festival of democracy, elections are here." "I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation. I hope this election witnesses a historic turnout. I particularly call upon first time voters to vote in record numbers," tweeted PM Modi.

The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 3. As soon as the elections are announced, the model code of conduct will come into force. 

The required electronic voting machines and paper trail machines are in place to be deployed in nearly 10 lakh poling stations across 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Here are the LIVE Updates on Lok Sabha Elections dates announcement: 

Phase 1 (April 11)

Andhra Pradesh: 25 seats

Arunachal Pradesh: 2 seats

Assam: 5 seats

Bihar: 4 seats

Chhattisgarh: 1 seat

Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats

Maharashtra: 7 seats

Manipur: 1 seat

Meghalaya: 2 seats

Mizoram: 1 seat

Nagaland: 1 seat

Odisha: 4 seats

Sikkim: 1 seat

Telangana: 17 seats

Tripura: 1 seat

Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats

Uttarakhand: 5 seats

West Bengal: 2 seats

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 1 seat

Lakshadweep: 1 seat

Phase 2 (April 18)

Assam: 5 seats

Bihar: 5 seats

Chhattisgarh: 3 seats

Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats

Karnataka: 14 seats

Maharashtra: 10 seats

Manipur: 1 seat

Odisha: 5 seats

Tamil Nadu: 39 seats

Tripura: 1 seat

Uttar Pradesh: 8 seats

West Bengal: 3 seats

Puducherry: 1 seat

Phase 3 (April 23)

Assam: 4 seats

Bihar: 5 seats

Chhattisgarh: 7 seats

Gujarat: 26 seats

Goa: 2

Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat

Karnataka: 14 seats

Kerala: 20 seats

Maharashtra: 14 seats

Odisha: 6 seats

Uttar Pradesh: 10 seats

West Bengal: 5 seats

Dadra and Nagar Haveli: 1 seat

Daman and Diu: 1 seat

Phase 4 (April 29)

Bihar: 5 seats

Jammu and Kashmir: 1 seat

Jharkhand: 3 seats

Madhya Pradesh: 6 seats

Maharashtra: 17 seats

Odisha: 6 seats

Rajasthan: 13 seats

Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats

West Bengal: 8 seats

Phase 5 (May 6)

Bihar: 5 seats

Jammu and Kashmir: 2 seats

Jharkhand: 4 seats

Madhya Pradesh: 7 seats

Rajasthan: 12 seats

Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats

West Bengal: 7 seats

Phase 6 (May 12)

Bihar: 8 seats

Haryana: 10 seats

Jharkhand: 4 seats

Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats

Uttar Pradesh: 14 seats

West Bengal: 8 seats

Delhi: 7 seats

Phase 7 (May 19)

Bihar: 8 seats

Jharkhand: 3 seats

Madhya Pradesh: 8 seats

Punjab: 13 seats

West Bengal: 9 seats

Chandigarh: 1 seat

Uttar Pradesh: 13 seats

Himachal Pradesh: 4 seats